Selenium, Serum

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB1232265, Beaker: Selenium, Quest: 550

Department

Send Outs

Instructions

Patient should refrain from taking vitamins or mineral supplements at least three days prior to specimen collection.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One plain Royal Blue-top tube with no additive.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Transfer serum to a metal free transport tube within one hour of collection. Refrigerate specimen (2-8°C or 36-46) prior to transport.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 2.0 mL serum, refrigerated at (2-8°C or 36-46). (Minimum: 0.7 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Specimens not in metal-free transport tubes
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated. 

In-Lab Processing

Centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Transfer serum to a metal free transport tube within six hours of collection. Maintain at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F) prior to transport.

Transport: 2.0mL serum, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46). (Minimum: 0.7 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 8 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 14 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 30 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to Quest Diagnostics, Wood Dale, IL.

Performed

Tuesday, Friday.
Results available in 5-7 days.

Reference Range

<2 Years	16-71 mcg/L
2-4 Years	40-103 mcg/L
4-16 Years	55-134 mcg/L
Adult	63-160 mcg/L

Test Methodology

Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectrometry (ICP/MS)

Interpretation

By report.

Clinical Utility

Selenium – Selenium is an element of parenteral nutrition. Monitoring the Selenium concentration is useful in assessing parenteral nutrition, especially recent intake. Concentrations are also monitored in children with propionic acidemia who require special diets with supplements.

CPT Codes

84255

Contacts

Last Updated

12/18/2025